On this week's episode of  the Venue RX Podcast, our host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Sam Jacobson, Co-Founder of DUET and Owner of Ideaction Consulting, to talk about what it really takes to start or refine a business with a strong digital presence in today’s ever-changing industry.

Sam explores why business owners can’t afford to operate on autopilot, how the wedding and creative industries have evolved over the years, and why regularly reassessing your goals, services, and direction is essential for long-term growth. Sam breaks down the foundational steps of building a business, from defining your ideal client and structuring your services to deciding whether to remain owner-operated or build a team.

He also dives into how to transition from saying “yes” to every client to intentionally targeting the right ones, using real-world client examples and case studies. Sam shares practical ways to gather and analyze client feedback through surveys, reviews, CRMs, and AI-powered tools, plus he explains how to use AI responsibly to enhance strategy, systems, SOPs, and operations without relying on it as a shortcut.He highlights the importance of business structure, naming, branding, and the importance of taking imperfect action, knowing when to refine, pivot, or double down on what’s already working, so you can keep moving forward without getting overwhelmed.

About Our Guest: 

Sam Jacobson is a Co-Founder of DUET and the Owner of Ideaction Consulting, where he has spent nearly two decades helping wedding professionals elevate their businesses and stay ahead in a competitive market. Through Ideaction Consulting, Sam has guided hundreds of creative entrepreneurs by sharpening their marketing messages, understanding buyer psychology, and building sales systems that convert interest into booked clients.

Known for his ability to activate audience interest, Sam specializes in clear, persuasive communication that attracts ideal clients directly to the inbox. As social-led marketing emerged as the primary driver of visibility and inquiries for creative brands, Sam became deeply focused on the strategies that turn attention into trust—and trust into results.

At DUET, Sam leads client strategy and trains the team on how to use storytelling to spark connection, build credibility, and drive measurable growth for wedding venues and creative businesses alike.

Find Him Here: 

Website: https://ideactionconsulting.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ideactionconsulting/?hl=e 

Website: https://duetsocialmedia.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/duetsocialmedia/?hl=en

On this week's episode of The Venue RX Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Joe Bockerstette to break down the purpose and power of Business Enterprise Mapping. Joe explains how documenting, visualizing, and redesigning business processes helps leaders understand why their companies get the results they do and how owners can fix process issues to improve outcomes. He walks through the foundations of a strong value proposition, the importance of identifying the right customer, and how pain points, desires, responsiveness, cost, and expertise all shape the customer experience. Joe explains how business mapping applies across every department, why it works for any industry, and how focusing on the biggest organizational pain points creates a ripple effect of improvement. He discusses the tools used in mapping, the value of standardizing processes across multiple locations, and the human side of change management. Joe also shares practical steps for small teams, the dangers of relying on “superheroes,” and how to distinguish between people problems and process problems, and why continual improvement matters. 

About Our Guest: 

Joe Bockerstette, brings more than 30 years of transformational leadership across supply chain, operations, and strategic process improvement. Joe has served as a consulting partner at PwC, led CPG companies as CEO, and founded both private equity and angel investment groups, a career defined by building organizations that run smarter, faster, and more efficiently.

Most recently, Joe has been guiding executive teams at Business Enterprise Mapping, where he champions the Perigon Method, a proprietary approach that helps companies turn unclear, inefficient workflows into streamlined engines of value. His work focuses on equipping teams to identify their toughest operational pain points, create practical playbooks for improvement, and build the internal capability to sustain meaningful, long-term results.

He’s also the author of three books on time-based manufacturing, angel investing, and strategic process management, resources that deeply resonate with entrepreneurs, venue owners, and leaders who want to scale through clarity, systems, and smart operational design.

Find Him Here: 

Website: https://www.businessmapping.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-bockerstette-86875a17/

In this week’s episode of The Venue Rx Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Sean Garner, founder of Sean Garner Consulting, a full-service agency and fractional CMO partner for local service-based businesses. Sean specializes in helping business owners cut through the noise with simple, actionable marketing strategies that drive real results. Sean breaks down the balance between personal branding and business branding, revealing why showing your face online can build trust faster than any polished logo. He also explains how to create a strong marketing foundation rooted in clear messaging, and why many businesses struggle simply because they’re doing the right tactics in the wrong order.

Sean dives into practical, realistic ways to use AI without falling into the common pitfalls that derail most business owners. He shares why video podcasts are one of the most powerful tools for content creation, SEO, and positioning yourself as the expert in your market. And for anyone thinking about hiring outside help, he offers essential advice on choosing the right marketing agency, along with the red flags venues and service providers should never overlook. 

About Our Guest: 

Sean Garner is an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and founder of Sean Garner Consulting, a full-service agency and fractional CMO partner for local, service-based businesses. With more than a decade of hands-on experience, he’s helped health and wellness brands, medical clinics, law firms, coaches, consultants, and home service providers grow with clarity, confidence, and consistent lead generation.

What makes Sean unique is the real-world journey behind his expertise. From gym owner to firefighter to faith-driven family man, he understands exactly what it’s like to run a business while balancing life’s most important priorities. His superpower is cutting through the complexity of modern marketing and turning it into simple, actionable steps that actually work. Through StoryBrand messaging, website design, and smart funnel strategy, Sean helps business owners take control of their marketing and position themselves as the trusted, go-to choice in their market.

Find Him Here: 

• Website: https://www.seangarner.co/venuerx

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanagarner/

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SeanGarnerConsulting/

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seangarner/

• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/seangarner
  

Ever wondered what it looks like behind the scenes when we record our podcast? Today we’re bringing you into our home studio to show you the full setup, the workflow, the gear we use, and all the little moments that make each episode happen!From setting up the mics to prepping our notes and hitting record, come hang out with us as we share a real, unfiltered look at our creative process. Whether you're curious about podcasting, love BTS content, or just want to see how it all comes together, this episode is for you!

Links To Everything Here:

Sony A7 IV: https://a.co/d/1aDWR6a

Elgato Prompter: https://a.co/d/aLilt8F

RØDE VideoMic Pro: https://a.co/d/aLilt8F

Dummy Battery AC Power: https://a.co/d/gAQZMVg

 Camera Cage: https://a.co/d/8JnJ0lR

Elgato Facecam 4K: https://a.co/d/ibdanH6

iVANKY Dual Thunderbolt:https://a.co/d/hDTIdhK

LED Video Light Kit: https://a.co/d/aqetEg2

Watch Here: https://youtu.be/TwsU4mY1q4k

On this week’s episode of The Venue RX Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Jason Kramer, founder and CEO of Cultivize, a consulting firm that helps service-based businesses turn their CRM systems into scalable growth engines.

Jason shares his journey from running a marketing agency to becoming a CRM strategist focused on connecting marketing efforts to measurable sales results. He discusses how platforms like Upwork and Fiverr reshaped traditional marketing, why so many CRM implementations fail, and how businesses can fix broken lead management processes by prioritizing systems and strategy over software.

Jason explains how to choose the right CRM, the pros and cons of industry-specific tools, and what it really takes to document and streamline the client journey, from first inquiry to post-event retention. Jason also shares insights on AI, automation, and how his team at Cultivize helps businesses of all sizes build visibility, consistency, and accountability into their growth systems.

About Our Guest: 

Jason Kramer is the founder of Cultivize, a consulting firm that helps business consultants and growth advisors turn their CRM systems into engines for scalable success. With more than 20 years of experience in marketing and business development, Jason specializes in transforming lead management processes through smart CRM automation and targeted email nurturing, creating measurable, ROI-driven growth for B2B and consulting firms.

His career began with global brands like Virgin Atlantic and Johnnie Walker, but today his passion lies in empowering strategic advisors and fractional leaders to gain visibility into what’s working, and what’s not, within their sales pipelines. When he’s not helping clients streamline and scale, you’ll find Jason out on the Hudson River enjoying time with his family.

Find Him Here: 

Website: https://cultivize.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cultivize/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonleighkramer/
Youtube: https://youtube.com/@crm-advisor-implementor?si=cjzCGRhb6xugqVQr

https://youtu.be/hMYp3NqePlc

In this vlog, Jonathan Aymin travels to San Antonio, Texas, to conduct a full venue audit for a wedding venue hosting about 50 weddings per year, with the goal of doubling that number. Jonathan breaks down exactly what a venue audit is, who it’s for, and how it helps owners identify blind spots in their business operations and marketing.

With experience from hosting over 6,000 weddings nationwide and managing a team of nearly 100 event professionals, Jonathan and the Common Sense Events team bring real-world expertise from venues across the country. He dives into what separates thriving venues from struggling ones, uncovering the difference between people problems and process problems, and how systemizing your business can safeguard long-term sustainability.

He covers the full audit process: from initial contact and setup to actionable findings that reveal where revenue is being left on the table. Jonathan analyzes marketing gaps, lead handling systems, and advertising strategies, from Google and Meta ads to organic social media content, showing how the right marketing and automation tools can transform booking results.

On this week’s episode of The Venue RX Podcast host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Justin Lund, founder of Propel Your, a company that helps small business owners streamline operations, handle compliance, and implement the systems needed to grow sustainably. Propel takes on the administrative and back-office load, things like bookkeeping, payroll, HR, and financial organization, so founders can focus on vision, leadership, and scaling with clarity.

In this episode, Jonathan and Justin dive into how operational structure and personal growth go hand in hand. Justin works with business owners helping them overcome operational pain points and move beyond founder dependency. He shares how his own journey, from a creative, sales-driven entrepreneur to a disciplined systems thinker was forged through personal adversity and recovery.

Justin opens up about his battle with addiction, the lessons learned through rehab, and how psychology and intentional structure became his path to rebuilding both life and business. He discusses parallels between addiction and avoidance in entrepreneurship, how distractions, overworking, and lack of clarity can hold leaders back just as powerfully as any substance.

He also unpacks the dangers of founder dependency, the importance of financial oversight, and the transformative mindset shifts that allow entrepreneurs to scale beyond themselves. Through stories of both hardship and triumph, Justin reveals how simple, consistent systems can replace chaos with clarity and empower long-term growth.

About Our Guest: 

Justin Lund is a systems-driven entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of Propel Your, a company dedicated to helping small business owners scale beyond founder-dependence by building resilient operations and administrative foundations. With a focus on companies generating $500K to $1.5M in annual revenue, Justin partners with founders to resolve operational pain points, standardize processes, and instill sustainable structure so that businesses aren’t reliant on any single person.

His journey to operations expert was far from linear. Early in his career, Justin gravitated toward sales, creativity, and the more exciting facets of entrepreneurship, often neglecting the “boring” but vital functions accounting, payroll, compliance that he believed could be outsourced. But life intervened. After battling addiction and navigating legal and personal consequences, he underwent a deep period of self-reflection, rehabilitation, and growth. He credits that season not only with personal healing but with the formation of rigorous mental models, frameworks, and systems that now inform every facet of his work.

Find Him Here: 

Instagram: www.instagram.com/itsjustinlund/

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@itsJustinLund

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/justin-lund-propel/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/justin.lund.propel

Website: www.propelyour.com

Email: [email protected]

In this week’s episode of The Venue RX Podcast, host Jonathan Aymin sits down with Caleb Ralston, a creative strategist and media expert known for helping brands find their voice and build deeper connections with their audience. Together, they dive into what it truly takes to build a brand, craft meaningful content, and use media intentionally to stand out in a crowded marketplace.

Caleb shares his journey from a childhood passion for creating videos to becoming a professional storyteller who has collaborated with some of the biggest names in marketing. He 

unpacks the importance of leaning into your natural strengths, hiring to fill your weaknesses instead of trying to fix them, and adapting to the evolving role of AI in today’s creative landscape.

He also breaks down his signature “Two Column Approach” for standing out in competitive industries, clarifies the difference between branding, marketing, and advertising, and shares his philosophy on building teams that solve real bottlenecks rather than simply filling roles. Caleb offers insight into identifying top talent, fostering curiosity, and understanding what truly separates impactful content creators from artists who create only for themselves.

Finally, Caleb discusses why the most successful brands focus on audience intent, creating content that educates, inspires, and converts while maintaining artistic integrity. He highlights the power of evergreen, belief-driven messaging to build lasting trust and explains why these principles matter across every industry, from media to venues and beyond.

About Our Guest: 

Caleb Ralston is a creative strategist, brand architect, and media expert who helps entrepreneurs build personal brands that convert. Blending storytelling with strategic execution, he focuses on brand positioning, content strategy, and media team development to ensure the stories you tell are seen, trusted, and acted upon.

With experience working alongside top creators and companies, Caleb’s approach is hands-on and results-driven, centered on clarity, authenticity, and meaningful execution. He is also a sought-after speaker and podcast guest, where he shares insights on how powerful branding and media can drive lasting growth.

Find Him Here: 

Website: https://calebralston.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calebralston

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CalebRalston

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/calebralston